Wednesday, 19 November 2008

Yesterday I completed length no. 1416 and finished my Channel Swim in Ilkley pool. I am raising money for ASPIRE. ASPIRE's projects and services have a very simple goal - to provide the practical support needed for people with spinal cord injury, from injury to independence.

Just over 12 months ago I could just about swim 20 lengths in the slow lane. I swam once a week, gradually building up my fitness and stamina until I could swim 70 lengths in 60 minutes - in the medium lane.

I started my Channel Swim on 15 September and have been swimming 2 or 3 times a week since then (apart from the week my employer sent me to head office in Hampshire).

Most lengths swum in one week = 228Most lengths swum in one session = 90All breaststroke.

Please give a donation to ASPIRE at www.justgiving.com/stephaniemawdsley.

Monday, 17 November 2008

I used felt as a backing, then added blanket stitch around the edge, pulling this tight to create mmm around edge. I added more rows of blanket stitch - this creates a grid, through which I threaded the blue stranded cotton to form M M M - I don't like this, so I didn't continue with it.

I have used gold pen to highlight sections of the grid pattern in the paper, using my 'designers' paper created by writing over plastic canvas as 'inspiration'.

Finally I added the blue ribbon and large fly stitches to create a 'hint of A and M'.

About Me

I've been stitching since I was five years old and decided to take City & Guilds Embroidery to improve my design skills. I live in Wharfedale with my husband, David, who is a furniture designer and cabinetmaker. Our son has just joined our company and is training to be a cabinetmaker.